Thompson Rare Books

Main Navigation

A SHORT CRITIQUE AND COMMENT UPON MAGIC [in] SKOOB OCCULT REVIEW, No 3, Autumn, 1990. The Author's First Appearance in Print.

[London]: Skoob Books, 1990. First Edition. Original Wraps. First Edition. Thin quarto, original colour pictorial wrappers. 57 pp, Illustrated throughout, ads. The author's first appearance in print, an approximately 1300 word article (pp 54-55, two full pages of triple column type), plus a small illustration by Chumbley - a variant of a drawing which later appeared in his 'Azoëtia'. See Gavin Semple & Clive Harper 'From the Peacock Quill: A Bibliography of Andrew D. Chumbley (Reineke Verlag, 2005; pages 21-22 & 34). Very slight rubbing to covers, a fine copy in wrappers. The article was reprinted (without the drawing) in 'Opuscula Magica Volume I, Essays: Witchcraft and the Sabbatic Tradition' (Three Hands Press, 2010). Near Fine. Item #308901

¶ 'A Short Critique and Comment upon Magic' was Chumbley's first published article, in which he reflected upon his ideal vision of magic and the role of dream, artistry and the inspiration of solitude in the Path. The tone is fairly informal, despite the Blakean capitalisations, but the scope and originality of his thesis pointed towards the visionary sweep that would mark his mature essay style within a few years. The piece is, in effect, a manifesto, and lays out the salient themes of doctrine and method that he would continue to elaborate in his work; a comparison of this article with 'Cultus Sabbati: Dream, Provenance and Magistry', written twelve years on, reveals the rapid evolution of Chumbley's spiritual insight and capability as both writer and seminal theorist of magic. A small drawing at the column foot accompanied the piece, which was relegated to the very end of the magazine - an indication of the author's status as an unknown voice. The journal also contains an interview with Kenneth Grant (apparently by himself), and Frank Letchford writing on Austin Osman Spare, it was typeset by Ian Read, leading member of the London I.O.T. and erstwhile singer with Sol Invictus, who brought 'Azoëtia' to publication as a private edition eighteen months later.' - quotation, Semple & Harper, 'From the Peacock Quill' (ibid cit).